“It’s part of a program to increase fuel economy. By itself, a spare tire, which might weigh between 20 and 25 pounds, and then you know, a few more pounds for the jack, it doesn’t really add too much to your fuel economy. But what the automakers are doing is they’re combing the car for weight savings.,” Kiley said. “If you remember Apollo 13, in the scene where Gary Sinise is trying all these things to get just enough power, that’s kind of what the automakers are doing with weight. The lighter the car the better the fuel economy is going to be.”

Kiley says, “There are cars that come equipped with run-flat tires, and these are fairly new items. If you get a puncture or something, they actually allow the driver to drive maybe up to 80 to 90 miles before the tire is really going to be compromised.”

Many BMWs have come standard with run-flats for years. Some car makers are selling their vehicles with a kit to seal a puncture so you can drive at least far enough to get a new tire.

“Would you want your sweetheart to be driving in a car without a spare?” asked Farnack.

“I don’t think my wife would attempt to change a tire. She has a AAA card, and I can’t remember the last time she was driving out of cell range. So, I gotta tell you, changing a tire, for a lot of people, is a pretty arduous task,” answered Kiley.